British Cabinet Deadlock

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 43, 21 February 1938, Page 8

British Cabinet Deadlock

LATE EDITION

Two Ministers’ Threat to Resign Failing Agreement WITHDRAWAL OF VOLUNTEERS United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyriaht. Received Sunday, 9.55 p.m. LONDON, Feh. 20. The Sunday Dispatch revives rumours of Mr. Eden’s resignation if Cabinet does not insist on the withdrawal of volunteers, especially Italians, from Spain as a preliminary to negotiations. Mr. Chamberlain is making for a compromise. Mr. W. E. Eliott, Secretary for Scotland, and Mr. W, S. Morrison, Minister of Agriculture, have threatened their resignation unless the deadlock is overcome. A Britain and Italy A NEW FORMULA? CONCERN OVER EUROPE LONDON, Feb. 18. Arising from talks between the Prime Minister, Mr Neville Chamberlain, and the Italian Ambassador, Count Grandi an emergency meeting of Cabinet has been summoned for February 19 foi which Mr Chamberlain is returning from Birmingham. All Ministers have cancelled their week-end engagements. The holding of a Cabinet meeting on s Saturday is very unusual. The Australian Associated Press says that sudden unexpected moves in the international situation occurred in London to-day. The announcement that an emergency Cabinet meeting had been summoned for to-morrow was surprising, as Mr Chamberlain and Mr Eden have had meetings with the Italian Ambassador, Count Grandi, which were entirely unheralded. It is known that Mr Chamberlain has been most concerned at the continued deterioration of the European situation and has been anxious to attempt to negotiate an Anglo-Italian agreement. The weekend’s events precipitated things. Mr Chamberlain feels that Britain without delay must know where she stands with Italy and what Signor Mussolini is prepared to do. He consequently summoned Count Grandi to Downing Street. It is believed that Count Grandi indicated n Duce’s viewpoint. Therefore the problem which Mr Chamberlain now presents to Cabinet is to decide whether or not to deal with Italy. It is one of the most difficult situations Cabinet has faced for a considerable time.

The feeling widely shared in Parliamentary circles is that Signor Mussolini is in difficulties financially, economically and Internally, besides suffering setbacks in Spain and Abyssinia, in conjunction with Herr Hitler's deserting him over Austria. Consequently, Britain should not even commence to negotiate.

Mr Chamberlain feels that if no agreement is reached now the situation will rapidly become worse. Italian circles claim that to-day’s talks resulted in a new formula for commencing Anglo-Italian conversations. It is confirmed that tTTe conversations covered all aspects of the Mediterranean,but the Italians aver that Count Grandi refused to discuss Austria.